Civil Service Commission upholds 3-day suspension for El Paso Museum preparator
Loading...
Summary
The El Paso Civil Service Commission voted 4-2 on Feb. 12 to sustain a hearing officer's recommendation that Diego Arias receive a three-day suspension for insubordination during a humidifier leak and flooding response at the museum.
The El Paso Civil Service Commission voted 4-2 on Feb. 12, 2026, to sustain a hearing officer's recommendation and uphold a three-day suspension for museum preparator Diego Arias.
The appeal stemmed from an incident in which museum staff responded to water leaking from a humidifier. The hearing officer summarized testimony that Arias did not follow a supervisor's instructions during the emergency response and later sat at his computer applying for a job transfer instead of immediately following orders. In explaining the standard of review, legal adviser Robert Ayenam told commissioners the commission reviews whether the hearing officer's decision was supported by a preponderance of the evidence.
Department leadership defended the recommended discipline. Ben Fife, managing director of Quality of Life for the city of El Paso, described the event as a time for fast, unified action to protect what he said are "over 6,000 works of art in the Museum of Art's collection" and said the supervisor had issued a plan that others followed. "We need to be able to act very, very quickly," Fife said.
Arias told the commission he contends he did act to address safety concerns, saying he first addressed what he considered an electrical hazard and removed water from the floor, then later completed the tasks he was asked to do. "I do not contest the things I did," Arias said. "The only thing I contest is the behavior I got back having a door slammed and being threatened to be fired." He also said he asked for security footage to show his actions.
Commissioners debated two competing frames: strict application of the disciplinary matrix versus allowing context and leadership breakdown to affect the remedy. Several commissioners pressed whether museum staff had practiced the disaster plan and whether the plan in practice provided clear expectations; the record cited a disaster-plan section for "water damage minor" and a named supervisor with responsibility for directing staff. Mary Wiggins, chief human resources officer, told the commission the city uses comparator cities when it develops disciplinary policies and confirmed required trainings (ethics and open meetings) for commissioners.
After discussion, Commissioner Bester moved to sustain the hearing officer's recommendation. The roll call was: Michael Vester — yes; Victor Vasquez — no; Jeffrey Dan Cougham — yes; Woodrow Bear — yes; Carlos Gonzales — no; Larry Porras — yes. With four votes in favor and two opposed, the commission upheld the three-day suspension.
The commission wrapped the agenda and adjourned at 7:28 p.m. The suspension remains in place per the commission's vote; the transcript does not record any immediate additional appeals or a timeline for the suspension's effective dates.
